Many Palm Beach Parks & Rec programs are free or cheap

Are you interested in a naturalist-led group night hike to search for the superstars of the night like nocturnal animals? 

How does a guided walk through a pine flatwood forest to encounter wildlife along with a red-shouldered hawk sound?

Are you interested in learning more about and seeing up close an American alligator or Florida native gopher tortoise and exploring their habitat?

The Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Dept. offers public programs and activities to promote environmental awareness, conservation, recreation, and educate attendees.

Many programs are free with registration; others have nominal fees of $5-$10.

Okeeheelee Nature Center features 2.5 miles of trails winding through 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands. Highlights of the center include hands-on exhibits, animal encounters and a nature related gift shop.

You'll not only see birds of prey and other wildlife, but you can also touch a live snake, if you are so inclined. A variety of live educational animals reside inside the nature center, including a screech owl, baby alligators, snakes, and turtles.

Credit: Palm Beach Parks & Recreation

Here's a sample listing of recurring events:

Okeeheelee Nature Center
7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach

Animal feedings:

• Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 3:30 p.m. 
• Families/all ages, FREE (No reservations required)

Alligator feedings:

• Saturdays, 1 p.m. 
• Families/all ages, FREE (No reservations required)

For a complete list of activities at Okeeheelee, more details, visit Parks & Recreation at pbcgov.org.

Image by Paul Brennan @ pixabay.com

There are 87 community, regional and county parks and recreation sites in Palm Beach. Visit Parks & Recreation Park Locator at pbcgov.org to find one near you.

More recurring events at other parks and natural areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reptile Encounter
  Riverbend Park, 9060 Indiantown Road, Jupiter
  Wednesdays, 2:30 p.m.
  All ages; free, no prior registration required.
• Animal Feeding: Aquatic Turtles
  Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands Area, 12800 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach.
  Fridays at 2:15 p.m.
  Free animal feeding presentation for all ages, no reservation required. 

Visit Calendar event pages at pbcgov.org for a comprehensive list to locate activities of interest in your area.

Note: All tours and activities are subject to change or cancelation; verify before heading out.

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